News

TX: Fast Texas Toll Road Struggles to Pick Up Drivers. Some drivers and trucking groups said motorists have avoided the privately operated toll road because of the expense—fees can exceed $8 for cars and $29 for commercial trucks—and it often isn’t the fastest way from point A to B. Wall Street Journal

ID: Gov. Otter orders state to take over operation of troubled private prison. Gov. Butch Otter just announced that he’s ordering the state Board of Correction to halt its ongoing effort to get new bids from private firms to run the privately operated state prison, the Idaho Correctional Center, south of Boise, and instead move to have the state take over operating the scandal-plagued lockup. The Spokesman Review

IN: Indiana officials spar over annuity privatization plan. A battle appears to be brewing in Indiana over a plan to privatize future annuity payments to retired public workers and teachers. LifeHealthPro

FL: Charter school lobbyist hired to do political work for Senate’s top budget-writer. A lobbyist who until recently represented a host of charter-school organizations has been hired to do political work for the Senate’s top education budget-writer, state Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton. St. Augustine Record           

Home, Sweet (Privatized Military) Home.  The goals of faster and cheaper military housing may have been achieved through privatization, but problems including unreliable builders and an unwillingness to fix persistent problems including mold has led to legal action by tenants. Truth-Out